Portfolio Approach

Lighthouse’s unique added value is our ability to assist executives in managing both an internal and external approach to achieving priority objectives in legislative and regulatory arenas, as follows:

Strengthening organizational frameworks to assure desired outcomes

Designing and deploying effective political advocacy programs

Building an integrated communications platform for achieving policy objectives with media/message strategies

Consistent with this approach we have developed four focused practice areas:

CEO, C-Suite & Board Advisory Services

For our CEO clients, it is rare to find a confidential coach/advisor with in-depth energy industry expertise, Board room experience and a prominent profile in the public policy world. Merribel Ayres has filled that role for several CEO’s and their leadership teams, drawing from the breadth of her background in all these areas.

She helps these clients navigate relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, design and deploy communication campaigns, integrate business operations with government affairs/regulatory initiatives, and manage internal conflicts over competing business and policy goals.

One of her CEO electric sector clients calls her his “Consigliere, a coach who understands corporate strategy!” Another tells his senior staff to take advantage of her expertise as a “working Board member.”

In addition, Ms. Ayres’ knowledge at federal/state political matters, combined with in-depth experience in communications and stakeholder management, enables her to provide a critical perspective for Corporate Boards, both as an adviser and Director. Her Board service has focused on political risk management, corporate strategy, external affairs and sustainability strategies.

Having worked in the energy sector for 25 years, Ms. Ayres can also support clients by identifying and pursuing prospective commercial opportunities and partnerships, particularly at the most senior levels of the energy organizations. Her experience with entities on virtually every side of the technology equation enables her to assist clients with creative pairings of business interests.

Similarly, over the years Lighthouse has developed an expertise in assisting clients with Organizational Alignment challenges, through a tool called the Government/External Affairs Assessment (GAA). The Assessment helps clients align competing and conflicting priorities across business units or regional global perspectives. Most importantly, it turns turf battles into teamwork!

We work with your management team on an evaluation of priority public policy and political issues to help you determine the potential impact of both risks and opportunities on your business. Our wealth of experience in the energy and environmental fields—combined with our ability to work in a bipartisan manner at all levels of government—results in a highly effective approach to managing advocacy campaigns.

In order to be successful in achieving client policy objectives, we also maintain strong ties with:

We help our clients articulate and advance their interests with Congress, the White House, leading federal regulatory agencies and stakeholder groups. Below are examples of the many entities we have worked with.

US Congress (Senate and House)

Council on Environmental Quality

Department of Agriculture

Department of Energy

Department of the Interior

Environmental Protection Agency

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

US Trade Representative

The White House

Leading National Environment and Consumer Groups

Leading National Media Outlets

Please visit our client list on the site to view a comprehensive list of domestic and international firms/organizations that have used our skills in this area.

Strategic Communications

Lighthouse offers expanded public affairs services to its clients through our strategic alliance with Purple Strategies, one of Washington’s leading, full-service communications firms.

It’s no longer enough to win the day in Washington with a lobbying campaign by itself. An integrated communications platform is essential to success!

Together, Purple Strategies and Lighthouse combine the best of traditional public affairs offerings with the latest in opinion research services and digital communications tools. We develop campaigns that help clients successfully navigate legislative, regulatory and business-related challenges with ease and confidence.

Drawing on the expertise of a seasoned team of professionals, we design and launch comprehensive communications campaigns for corporations, trade associations, non-profit organizations, and coalitions.

Together, our communications core competencies include:

Opinion research

Stakeholder outreach and engagement

Media relations

Digital communications

Creative services

Advertising

Site Development for Issue Advocacy

Profile Development & Management

For our international clients in particular, Lighthouse helps build and manage the company profile to assure that their business is a well-respected and, therefore, a welcomed entity when planning an investment in the US energy sector.

Overseas investors typically (and wisely!) hire investment banks and law firms—essential to identifying and managing the financial and legal mechanics of a US acquisition—but they don’t always appreciate the need for an equally expert public affairs and political outreach team. This is an omission that can easily put the entire investment at risk. Your competitors will always tell your story if you don’t!

At Lighthouse, we help our international clients define their narrative and gain policy makers’ trust in their commitment to investing in the US economy. We do this by customizing a profile-development campaign to suit your needs.

In addition, as part of managing your business risk, we ensure you access to first-hand, reliable information in the policy and political arena—critical to making sound investment decisions.

We have an excellent track record of working with international firms—please visit Our Client section to learn more.

“Lighthouse’s unique Government Affairs Assessment (GAA) tool helped transform US from a company still undergoing the stress of a merger to an organization with a “best-practices” approach to federal, state and local government affairs.”